The Southern Moreton Bay Islands Coast Care received a federal government grant of over eight thousand dollars to aid the continuation of drone monitoring on Russell Island.

The drone trial which monitored the island’s mangroves ended successfully and this latest grant meant the remaining twelve missions can be completed.

Project coordinator Al Priestwood said the drones are a great improvement on handheld cameras and are excited to continue the project once weather conditions improve.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk refused to take down a tweet regarding the AstraZeneca vaccine. The tweet incorrectly stated the British government disallowed their population under 40 to take the vaccine. 

Her Twitter followers were quick to point out the misinformation, despite her reiterating the claim in a television interview last night. The Premier defended her statement by linking a BBC article on Twitter, with her office saying ‘clarifies’ her tweet. 

Thousands of close contacts caught up in Queensland’s latest Covid outbreak left devastated and confused.

Over 4,000 people have been directed to quarantine at home during a 14-day incubation period, with a minority placed into hotel accommodation at the state’s expense, after visiting a growing list of exposure sites across south-east Queensland and Townsville 

Anna Morton was ordered to enter the hotel quarantine after being identified as close contact, although fully vaccinated, having isolated for several days and testing negative.

Tech company Philips issued a recall of all its sleep apnoea machines and respirators as a result of defective foam insulation. 

The company explained the issue in a quarterly report, the foam is degradable and could potentially blow off particles and gas into the patient’s lungs causing damage.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration is aware of the issue and the recall may affect over 200,000 devices, while Australasian Sleep Association president Alan Young said the general risk is low and out of 10,000 machines only 3 could have the defective issue.

NSW Police said people from regional areas of the state are taking initiative by dobbing in Sydney travellers fleeing lockdowns. 

Officers have handed numerous infringement notices to Sydney tourists caught breaking Covid restrictions in towns such as Dunedoo, Oberon and Lithgow.

The NSW Police further state local businesses are enforcing check-in procedures which pinpoint those who are not able to provide an address outside the Sydney metro area.

More than 1,000 Afghan soldiers have been forced to flee into neighbouring Tajikistan to save their own lives against Taliban militants. 

In recent weeks the Taliban has been gaining significant control over the country, causing concern for the welfare of the country amidst fears the Afghan military will collapse.

This comes only days after the last Australian troops left the war-torn country with the US and UK following the same September withdrawal deadline.

Henry Pike will contest the Queensland seat of Bowman for the LNP to replace Federal incumbent MP, Andrew Laming.

Mr Pike, the Property Council director of media and communications, won a five-way LNP preselection battle on Sunday.

Dr Laming will quit politics at the next election after allegations that he harassed two women online.

The LNP’s culture towards women is being criticised, after a complaint was made about Mr Pike sending fat-shaming texts about women during his time with the Young LNP more than a decade ago.

In a recent Queensland COVID update, four new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 have been recorded today. 

Premier Annastacia Palaszcuk says all are low risk and linked to existing clusters. 

All four cases are the Alpha strain, rather than the more contagious Delta variant, which the Premier says is excellent news. 

The Premier urges everyone to wear masks, check in to all public places and get tested even if they have the mildest symptoms.